Flower pot container

ABSTRACT

A flower pot cover comprising a rigid open framework having a fabric cover and a water-resistant lining.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 335,596 filedon 04-10-89 now abandoned entitled "FLOWER POT CONTAINER".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to containers, and in particularto decorative containers for flower pots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a flower pot container. The containercomprises a frame which defines a polyhedron. A fabric cover issupported on the frame. Preferably, the container further comprises awater-resistant liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the frame of the flower potcontainer.

FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 1 with aliner attached.

FIG. 3 is a frontal perspective view of the frame with attached liner,as shown in FIG. 2, having a fabric cover supported thereon.

FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the frame with attached liner,as shown in FIG. 2, having another style of fabric cover supportedthereon.

FIG. 5 is a frontal perspective view of another embodiment of the flowerpot container of the present invention wherein the container is round incross-section.

FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of another embodiment of the flowerpot container of the present invention wherein the container is squarein cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures in general, the present inventioncomprises a flower pot container designated by the reference numeral 10(FIG. 3). As best shown in FIG. 1, the container 10 comprises a frame12. The frame 12 defines a polyhedron, and has a mouth or upper end 14for receiving the flower pot (not shown) having an upper end, a lowerend and an outer peripheral surface to be contained therein, and a lowerend or base 16. Between the mouth 14 and the base 16, the frame 12defines a sidewall 18.

The shape of the sidewall will be determined by the shape of the mouth14 of the frame 12 and by the shape of the base 16. In one preferredembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the sidewall 18 is defined by a pluralityof substantially vertical planes 20. As used herein, "substantiallyvertical" means lying in a plane at any angle from the plane of the base16.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the frame 12 preferably is constructed of ashape sustaining substance such as metal. More preferably, the frame 12is comprised of a plurality of rigid, rod-shaped members or stays 22interconnected in some suitable fashion, such as by welding.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the container 10 preferably also comprises aliner 24. The liner 24 comprises a sheet of relatively thin, flexible,water resistant and transparent material such as a plastic film. Theliner 24 draped inside the frame 12 so that the edges extend slightlyabove the mouth 14 of the frame 12. Then, the edges are folded over themouth 14 and affixed such as by stitching to form a hem 26.

Turning next to FIG. 3, the container 10 of the present invention alsocomprises a non-shape sustaining fabric cover 28 supported on the frame12. Preferably, the fabric cover 28 has a cloth-like appearance. Thecover 28 may be provided with an attractive surface ornamentation. Thecover 28 may be composed of a plurality of panels of fabric, a bottompanel (not shown) underlying the base 16 of the frame 12 thereby forminga closed lower end and several side panels 30 overlying the sidewall 18of the container. The seams 32 connecting the panels 30 preferablydirectly overlie the stays 22 of the frame 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover 28 is connected to or supported onthe frame 12, the cover 28 and the frame 12 form an opened upper end 35,a closed lower end 37, an inner peripheral surface 39 and an outerperipheral surface 41. The frame 12 with the cover 28 connected theretoforms the opened upper end 35 which is sized and shaped for receiving aflower pot (not shown) and which is generally near the mouth or upperend 14 of the frame 12. The frame 12 with the cover 28 connected theretosubstantially encompasses the entire outer periphery of the flower pot(not shown) when the flower pot (not shown) is disposed through theopened upper end 35 of the frame 12 with the cover 28 connected thereto.The liner 24 extends generally over the entire inner peripheral surface39 formed by the frame 12 with the cover 28 connected thereto and theliner 24 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of theflower pot (not shown) and the cover 28 when the flower pot (not shown)is disposed on the frame 12 with the cover 28 connected thereto.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the uppermost edges 34 of the sidepanels 30 have a decorative edging formed by tufts 36 of the threadsforming the fabric cover 28. In this embodiment, the cover 28 is affixedto the frame 12 by stitching the edge to the mouth 14 of the frame.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a modified container which is constructed exactlylike the container 10, except the edges of the cover 28a are turned inover the mouth 14a of the frame 12a and stitched down in much the samefashion as is the upper edge of the liner 24. In this case, the hem 38aof the fabric cover 28a should extend below the hem 26a of the liner 24ato cover the liner hem, as this will produce a neater appearance.

As indicated previously, the shape of the sidewall 18 of the container10 may be varied by changing the shape of the frame 12. Shown in FIG. 5is a modified container 10b which is constructed exactly like thecontainer 10a, except the frame 126 and cover 28b are shaped to provideda container 10b which is circular shaped in cross section.

Shown in FIG. 6 is a modified container 10c which is constructed exactlylike the container 10a, except the 12c and cover 28c are shaped toprovided a container 10c which is square shaped in cross section.

Now it will be appreciated that the present invention providescontainers for flower pots which are both practical and attractive. Theframe provides the container with rigid support, and the liner makes thecontainer waterproof. At the same time, the cover gives the containerthe look and feel of fabric, and attractive but heretofore impracticalmaterial for decorative flower pot containers.

Changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement ofthe various parts, elements, steps or sequence of steps and proceduresdescribed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flower pot container, comprising:a flower pothaving an upper end, a lower end and an outer peripheral surface; aframe having an upper end and a lower end, comprising and open framework formed of rigid, interconnected stays, the frame having a side walldefined by a plurality of substantially vertical plan; a coverconstructed of a non-shape sustaining fabric connected to the frame andextending generally between the upper and the lower ends of the frame sothe frame with the cover connected thereto forms an outer peripheralsurface and an inner peripheral surface and the frame with the coverconnected thereto forms an opened upper end generally near the upper endof the frame shaped and sized for receiving the flower pot, the covercovering the lower end of the frame thereby forming a closed lower end,the flower pot being disposed through the opened upper end of the framewith the cover connected thereto, and the frame with the cover connectedthereto encompassing substantially the entire outer peripheral surfaceof the flower pot, the cover comprising a plurality of side panels withthe side panels being interconnected along adjacent seams, each seambeing positioned directly over one of the stays of the frame.